With the publication of the White Paper, a solemn rite under the Fifth Republic, the President of the Republic recently communicated to the nation and the Armed Forces his directives on security and defence. The aim of this article is to look at the consequences of some of his choices, and in particular to draw attention to some of the issues regarding the new function ‘knowledge and anticipation’. To quote St Augustine, ‘Rome has spoken; the case is concluded’. The guidelines have been laid down, and it is now up to the Armed Forces to follow them and, as the details are not spelt out, to interpret them effectively.